How Parties End

Random observation of the day...

I have noticed this on several occasions: parties end and disperse super quickly.  One moment, the party is happening and I have no idea it is nearing the end.  The next moment, everyone is up and putting away chairs... clearing off table cloths.  Then, after disassembling the party like a swarm of ants, they're gone. 

I'm left sitting, wondering what signal I missed signifying that the party had ended.  No long goodbyes in this culture.  No hanging around, chatting.  A quick kiss and a thank you and you're off. 

Apparently, one "obvious" marker - as I was told today - is that after the piñata, the party is over.  That is how everyone except me knows. 


I find it hilarious that I can be so clueless with unspoken cultural norms.  


The party, though, was a lot of fun and I got to see where one of my friends grew up in the "campo" (countryside) about an hour outside of Quepos.  I spent the day with her and her adorable family, celebrating her nephew's first birthday. I remember when he was born last year!